This two-year program prepares candidates for ordination as priests in mission-parishes which are often unable to offer a salary. Priests in such parishes need to combine service in the Church with another means of support.

The program focuses on the three disciplines of the Tewahedo tradition: qene bet (language), zema bet (liturgical chant and practical liturgics), and tergum bet (theology). The latter is further divided into four sources: The Apostolic scriptures (including the Bible), patristics, liturgics and ecclesiology.

Content

The Sources of the Faith: The Apostolic scriptures (including the Bible), patristics, liturgics and ecclesiology.

Church history

Practical liturgics

Church music

Ge’ez

Examination Format

Folk high school studies are assessed based on attendance and active participation. For full-time studies, this means that the student should be present as a rule every Monday-Friday from 9.00-16.00, unless the teaching is arranged for another time or day, and complete all tasks that are included in the course. If a student's absence is higher than 20%, the school has the right and obligation to remove the student from the program, which also means that any student financial aid for the program will be withdrawn.

Certificate & Diploma

The program leads to a certificate of completion. By the end of the second year, students have the opportunity of taking an examination which leads to a diploma in pastoral ministry.

Ordination

The program does not automatically lead to ordination in a Tewahedo church. While the seminary faculty may recommend a seminary graduate for ordination, the final decision rests exclusively with the ordaining bishop.

Boarding

For participants of this program it is mandatory to live at the school, since the seminary life is an integral part of the students formation for service in the Church.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition at Sankt Ignatios is free for everyone with citizenship or residence permit in Sweden or another EU country. However, we do charge a service fee for studies at the college or folk high school. For full-time studies this fee is SEK 1200 per semester. The service fee covers things like insurance, administration, and some materials used by students in connection with their studies. The service fee does not cover course literature, which is the participant's own responsibility to acquire.

The cost of boarding is SEK 1500 per month (for 9 months per year) during the first year. After the first year the cost ranges from SEK 1000-4500 per month (for 9 months per year) depending on the students choice of living arrangement. The fee for boarding includes both meals and accomodation.

Student Financial Aid

Participants of this program who are Swedish citizens are eligible to apply for student loans and grants via The Swedish Board of Student Finance (CSN). In some cases, participants who are not Swedish citizens but who have a residence permit in Sweden may also be eligible to apply for student loans and grants via CSN. Applicants must be prepared to validate their eligibility by providing documentation detailing previous education, since this will determine the outcome of their application for student financial aid.

Read more about how to apply for student financial aid via CSN at www.csn.se.

Participants who are not eligible to apply for student financial aid via CSN are encouraged to investigate whether they can apply for student financial aid in their home country for studies at Sankt Ignatios.

Utilising student financial aid is however not required in order to study at Sankt Ignatios.

Next program start: Fall term 2019

Applicants within Sweden or other EU-countries:

Application period: March 15th - April 15th

Occasionally, additional application periods for late application are opened, depending on available spots. Such application periods are announced on our website shortly before opening.

Prerequisites

The course has no specific prerequisites.

Requirements for Admission

Applicants are required to be over the age of 18 and have a citizenship or residence permit in Sweden or another EU country.

In addition to the regular application, applicants also need to provide the following attachments:

A letter of recommendation from their spiritual father.

A letter of recognition from the ordaining bishop .

Qualified applicants will also be called to an admission interview. The interview takes place over the phone with the rector of the Tewahedo seminary.

Admissions Process

March 15th - April 15th: Fill out the online application form for this program. Within a few days you will receive an e-mail confirmation that we have received and processed your application.

Send your grades and other attachments (a letter of recommendation from your spiritual father and a letter of recognition from the ordaining bishop ) to us. You can scan the attachments and e-mail them to admission@sanktignatios.org, or send them by post to:

Sankt Ignatios Theological Akademy

Mälaregatan 4

151 71 Södertälje

Interview: After the application period, qualified applicants will be contacted via e-mail and a telephone interview will be booked with the rector of the Tewahedo seminary. In the interview, an initial assessment is made of the student's motivation for studies, family, background and grounding in their church. A general assessment of suitability for studies and boarding at the school is also made.

April 16th - July 11th: A letter of acceptance is sent out by e-mail to those who have been admitted. In order to keep your place you need to accept it no later than two weeks after your letter of acceptance was sent. The letter also contains information about the start of the program.

July 29th - August 2nd: A welcome letter is sent out with additional information about the start of the program.

August 12th - August 18th: Those who will be living at the school move in.

August 19th - August 23rd: program start and introductory week in Tysslinge.

If the program has too few participants

If the program has too few participants after the last application date, the program may be cancelled. If a program is cancelled, students will be notified of this no later than one week after the last application date. Any fees already paid will be refunded.